http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Darren-Gough-c52450: England should win 3-1
Former England fast bowler Darren Gough says England has more than enough quality to win the Ashes Test match series by a score of 3-1.
Gough has said that the England team has been better prepared for a series in Australia than ever before. He also says that recent results shown England is in a better frame of mind and better form ahead
of the first Test match, which starts later this evening.
"I think we'll win 3-1 and the good thing is you've got seven bowlers who could all play in the Test matches.
In my day you probably had two guys who were definites (to play) and that was it.
Now you've got seven who could play and they won't let the team down," Gough said on the Sky Sports website.
Gough suggests the difference will come in the bowling departments of each team. The Australian batting order retains strength through
the quality of players like Ricky Ponting, Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Mike Hussey.
However, Gough says the Australian bowling attack lacks a real cutting edge. If England can see off the new ball periods, which will be
very intense then they should be able to dominate a predictable attack and make big team totals.
"Of course, you can never write http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 off and their
batting is going to be very strong. But I'm not sure about their bowling and Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle are coming back from injury. Mitchell Johnson
can be a match-winner in Australia, he has got a good record over there, but he also can be a little bit wayward at times," added Gough.
Gough thinks that England has the more versatile attack where different bowlers can play different roles over the course of a long game.
He also says that England has more options in terms of being able to select a top quality extra batsman or bowler if needed.
"I think England have got good reverse-swing bowlers in
Stuart Broad, James Anderson and, if required, Tim Bresnan. It will be interesting to see if we do go for Bresnan and play an extra bowler in Brisbane.
I doubt we will do in the first Test. We will be a little bit cautious.
But, if we ever go down in the series, we will have to play five bowlers and Bresnan will come in," said Gough.
Gough agrees with other former England players and current cricket pundits that the key in this Ashes series is going to be the success
of Graeme Swann.
Australia has tried to play down Swann's importance in the build up to the first Test but Gough suggests that the off-spinner has the ability
to bowl out this Australian side cheaply.
"Swann has had a couple of terrific years but it is all
down to the team as well. They are knocking over the top order and the fact is Swann is then allowed to bowl when not under pressure and is taking wickets.
If he bowls a lot of overs in this series, which I can see him doing, he will take a lot of wickets.
He is a good bowler, turns the ball and will be important," Gough said.
Betting advice
The build up to the Ashes is nearly over and the excitement couldn't be greater. The difference in this series will come down to the team
that handles the pressure better. The Australians know that they have their work cut out against one of the best England sides in history.
Swann has never really been put under this much pressure yet in his career. He is a character and he should thrive on it. He will take
buckets of wickets whether England wins the series or not. Remember Shane Warne took 40 wickets during the 2005 series, which Australia lost.
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